Putting Social Advocacy Skills into Action

Assignment:

Putting Social Advocacy Skills into Action

Writing a proposal that functions as a focus of change is a significant part of being a social worker/policy advocate. This is your opportunity to use your advocacy skills to change and improve the lives of others.

In this Assignment, you write a proposal for some form of social advocacy that will seek to change a social, organizational, or legislative policy. The proposal may also involve advocacy for the amelioration of a social problem. The purpose of this assignment is to thoughtfully and thoroughly plan how you will advocate changing a social problem or policy that is of interest to you.

The policy practice/advocacy can take whatever form you wish and can be on any level: agency, community, state, or federal. You will submit a prospectus (3–4 pages) that describes the problem that is being addressed and the expected advocacy activities.

Submit your assignment.

Be specific when describing the social problem or policy you would like to change and address the following:

• If you selected a policy, when was the policy enacted, by whom, and for what reason?

• How are you going to work to change the policy/problem (i.e., plan for social advocacy)?

• How will your efforts address the policy/social problem described?

• Is continued policy practice/advocacy needed to make a long-term impact? Why or why not?

The prospectus will need to be well researched and written using APA guidelines. Data should come from at least five sources.

Make sure that your assertions are supported by appropriate research and reputable resources.

References (use 5 or more)

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

• Chapter 11, “Developing Political Strategy and Putting It into Action in the Policy-Enacting Task” (pp. 372-419)

 

McNutt, J. (2011). Is social work advocacy worth the cost? Issues and barriers to an economic analysis of social work political practice. Research on Social Work Practice, 21(4), 397–403. doi:10.1177/1049731510386624.

Sherraden, M. S., Slosar, B., & Sherraden, M. (2002). Innovation in social policy: Collaborative policy advocacy. Social Work, 47(3), 209–221

Benchmark – Schizophrenia Safety Plan

Read the Topic 5 Ted Case Study.

Create a 1,200-1,500-word safety plan for a client similar to Ted, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia that addresses potential depression and suicidality.

Include the following in your safety plan:

  1. What symptoms would a client with schizophrenia exhibit? What symptoms did Ted display?
  2. How would you have addressed Ted’s symptoms related to delusions, hallucinations, and depression?
  3. What other diagnosis might Ted have been misdiagnosed with and why?
  4. Describe which theories would have been most effective and which theories would have been least effective for treating Ted’s schizophrenia. Explain your rationale.
  5. Describe treatment options for addressing all of Ted’s symptoms.
  6. Explain how a client’s religious or spiritual beliefs come into play during the process of dealing with depression and suicide.
  7. Include at least five scholarly references in addition to the textbook in your papeCase Study: Ted

    A single man of 40 years of age named Ted cut his carotid artery at home. He had suffered from chronic schizophrenia, dominated by paranoid symptoms, for 20 years. During his illness, Ted had spent a total of 12 years in mental hospitals; individual hospitalizations had varied in duration. While he was hospitalized, his bizarre delusions of altered body states and his experiences of being controlled by external, often invisible, agents rapidly disappeared. He had death wishes and suicidal thoughts since the onset of his schizophrenia. Death wishes also stopped soon after hospitalization.

    Over the years, opinion about Ted changed and his condition began to be regarded as hopeless. He was difficult to treat; he accused personnel, was unreliable, acted pretentiously, and reacted by acting out. Four years before committing suicide, he had to be transferred to another mental hospital. Two years before his death, he was transferred to a halfway house belonging to the hospital, because the staff feared that his dependence on the hospital might become excessive. After his transfer to outpatient care, his suicidal tendencies increased. Six months before committing suicide, he lost his long-term nurse. Subsequent treatment consisted of occasional office visits with a psychologist or psychiatrist.

    Just before committing suicide, Ted tried to enter the hospital where he had been during the initial phases of his illness. He had suffered increasingly for a few months from paranoid fears of being murdered. He threatened to commit suicide unless he was admitted to the hospital, but the threat was considered demonstrative and hospitalization was brief.

    The day before he committed suicide, he visited his childhood home and became afraid that a group of men had surrounded the house. He repeated his wish to enter a mental hospital. During his final night, his state changed. According to his father, the Ted was exceptionally calm on the day of his death. The father said, “He no longer seemed afraid of anything.”

    Adapted from:

    Saarinen, P. I., Lehtonen, J., & Lönnqvist, J. (1999). Suicide risk in schizophrenia: An analysis of 17 consecutive suicides. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 25, 533-542.

    © 2017. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

Examine the physical changes associated with the selected developmental stage.

PSY 605 WEEK 6 FINAL PAPER

Week 6 – Final Paper

Integrating the Field of Developmental Psychology: A Review of the Literature

Prior to beginning work on this assignment, review the age group / developmental stage you selected in Week Two of the course. Remember, you must use this age group / developmental stage.

You will then review the Developmental Psychology literature examining findings for that age group / developmental stage in terms of the physical, emotional, cognitive, social dimensions, and how they impact development and can best be used to meet developmental needs.  Additionally, create a summary of the developmental stage as viewed through the lens of one developmental theory we have studied across the course (Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development, Freud’s Psychosexual Theory, Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory, etc.).

In your paper,

Examine the physical changes associated with the selected developmental stage.

Examine the cognitive changes associated with the selected developmental stage.

Examine the emotional changes associated with the selected developmental stage.

Examine the social changes associated with the selected developmental stage.

Evaluate the developmental changes and appraise the effects of the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social environments.

Integrate developmental and environmental factors into an assessment of developmental needs.

Create a summary of the developmental stage as viewed through the lens of a selected developmental theory.

Propose solutions for areas not addressed by the theory.

Analyze the ethical considerations for research and practice with the selected developmental stage.

The Integrating the Field of Developmental Psychology: A Review of the Literature

Must be 8 to 10 double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Must include a separate title page with the following:

Title of paper

Student’s name

Course name and number

Instructor’s name

Date submitted

Must use at least five scholarly sources in addition to the course text.

The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sourcestable offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.

Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment

Create a 3-coulumn table. In the first column, list five activities you engage in on a daily or weekly basis.

Anorexia Discussion

Caucasian females from Western societies tend to be the most at-risk population for anorexia. Discuss why you think these women are most at risk. Be sure to comment on at least one other student’s responses.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation Activity

Create a 3-coulumn table. In the first column, list five activities you engage in on a daily or weekly basis.

In the second column, describe why you engage in each activity.

In the third column, state whether you are intrinsically or extrinsically motivated.

Body Language Discussion

Think about a time when you or someone you know body’s language exposed their true feelings. Describe the situation and what specific actions that clued you in.  Make sure to comment on at least one other student’s response.

Myers Briggs Activity

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a popular personality test. Take the modified version of the test using the following link. Read your results.

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp

In a brief paragraph answer the following questions.

  • Did anything surprise you?
  • Do you agree with the results?      If so, how will you use these results in college, family and career?
  • If you do not agree with the      results, what do you think the test got wrong?

Personality Test Discussion

Many companies make potential employees take a psychological test like Myer Briggs.

Do you think the results of such tests should be part of the criteria to determine whether or not someone is qualified for a job?  Why or why not?  Would there be certain professions where tests like these would matter more?  Name the profession and your reasoning.

Defense Mechanism Activity

pick 4 of the defense mechanisms and write a college-student based example for each. Example: Denial–Kelly is going to Cancun for spring break even though she knows that with one more failing grade in Physics she will be on academic probation.

  1. Denial
  2. Displacement
  3. Projection
  4. Rationalization
  5. Reaction formation
  6. Regression
  7. Repression
  8. Sublimation

Personality Discussion

The personality chapter discusses many theories of personality, which vary widely on ideas of when and how personality was developed, the different influences on personality, and the ability to change personality. Which theory (or theories) do you agree with the most and the least?  Why? look up theories of personality and pick one.

Social Group Activity

Write down five different social groups you identify with (for example, student, activist, female/male, parent, waiter/waitress). Think about what online groups you belong, where you have a membership (gym, library) or clubs you belong to. List them out.

Now, think about stereotypes that people who are not in this social group might have of its members. For instance, boring and nerdy is often the stereotype of someone who frequents a library.

For each of your five social groups, list 3-5 stereotyped characteristics associated with that group.

On a scale of 1-5, (1 most describes you, 5 least describes you) rate whether or not these characteristics describe you?

Bystander Discussion

Deciding whether or not to help a stranger in need can be difficult. After watching the following video, discuss your thoughts. Would you stop and help the people in the video? Why or why not? https://www.youtube.com/embed/ybpg_B9S_q0

Breaking Social Norms Activity

Social norms guide and direct our behavior. Social norms are not laws, and we are not required to act in certain ways, but we do. We often get irritated when others do not act appropriately for the situation. In addition, it can make us uncomfortable to break a social norm.

Write one or two paragraphs about a time you broke a social norm. Did you do it on purpose? Did you know you broke the norm or did someone point it out to you? How did you feel about breaking the norm?  Where do you think that norm came from?   Do you think it is important that we, as a society, maintain this social norm? Why or why not?

Exchange papers with a classmate (either in person or online) to evaluate their violation of a norm.  Answer the following questions:

Do you think the behavior is a violation of a social norm? Have you ever broken this norm? Where do you think that norm came from? Do you think it is important that we, as a society, maintain this social norm? Why or why not?

Psychology of Evil Discussion

Watch the video and discuss your thoughts. Were you surprised by anything in the video? What do you think motivates people to act in ways that are good or evil? https://www.youtube.com/embed/OsFEV35tWsg